Rose in heaven

In the forest, the faint shadows of towering, tall trees stand side by side.

There were no longer the sounds of irate vehicles racing down the neighbouring highway or the shouting of children on the playground a few blocks away.

It was difficult to walk in the white, fluffy, deep snow, and his feet were numb from the cold. A man in his early thirties was strolling in the forbidden direction.

Unfortunately, he was drunk, and his head was hung low. While moving ahead of him, he wasn't worried about where he was going.

He had to squint his eyes to make out what was in front of him. When he exhaled, he could see his own breath.

He could hear the crunching of the snow beneath his thick wool boots and spongy socks, as well as the sound of his own breathing.

The wind's faint howling sounds like ghosts invading the city on Halloween. With his half-opened eyes, he observed an old, abandoned, crumbling gate in the distance that was in severe need of a fresh coat of paint.

He could hardly read the large words 'The Royal Circus' engraved on the gate's board. He didn't care where he was right now. Life had rendered him vulnerable and useless, so he abandoned everything in search of goods.

He had no place to sleep, no food to eat, and nowhere to go, yet he could see that he should pass through this gate.

Perhaps someone will assist him or provide him with new employment.

He put his palm over his mouth and spit out everything he had eaten before dinner. There was no light, yet the moon shone above him. He stared ahead of him again, wiping his mouth.

"This is my chance!"

"I can still work for a living."

-

The next day, Laurence was sitting in front of the window on a chair and sipping her coffee. It was a scene of pure tranquility and calmness.

There were no gentle beams of morning sun light pouring through the window glass, only grey light from the sky bathing the grounds.

She had no idea why the weather was always so pleasant here. She yearned for the sun and sweating.

As she immersed herself in the tenth page of 'Rose in Heaven,' she was transported to a different world. It was first series, she started a month ago. But after her Aunt's death she didn't touch it again.

She was busy with the funeral and burial that giving time to herself was not enough for her. Especially, the grief was eating her inside. Now, she was excited to finish it and read the second.

The book, with its intricate plot and poetic language, helped her escape the worries and hassles of everyday life.

She lost track of time as she dived deeper into the story, savoring every word and feeling the emotions of the characters.

Sipping her coffee, Laurence savoured the sweet and bitter flavor that lingered in her mouth.

The warmth of the coffee, the smell of the book, and the soothing ambiance of the morning made her feel at peace with herself and the world around her.

She immersed herself in the tranquility and mindfulness of the moment, letting go of all the stress and worries that may have been weighing her down.

She did not know when the problem would come knocking on her door.

Suddenly, her gaze darted around the room in confusion. She gazed out the window, because there was no one else around. She believed someone was watching her, but no one was.

Was she really imagining things?

In the end, she let go the feeling and decided to go to the library after she completed this book in search of other.

Meanwhile, Elliott exited his room and made his way towards the girl's dormitory.

He was irritated since he hadn't warned the girl to leave as quickly as possible. So, he and his heart could be at ease here, knowing she would be safe out there.

He strolled into the entryway, past the students, but he came to a halt when he noticed a familiar girl entering into the library as decided.

He sighed rubbed the centre of his eyes and gave a shook of his head. Since he didn't want to meet her in front of all the other students. He was hoping to find her in her room.

He saw students looking at him as he made his way to the library and scanned the area.

The hall was small, but it could hold forty students and at least five hundred books. The upper wall's windows were closed to keep the chilly weather out. The library was cosy, and not many students were reading.

The carpet was thick and comfy, so the sound of people walking by won't disturb the focused students sitting in the library.

When he couldn't find her small figure inside the hall, he strolled among the ranks of books.

He noticed her taking a footstool with great efforts and carefully standing on it. Her hand was still not reaching the book; she was so determined to take.

When he saw her, he snorted. He was confident that she would injure herself.

"You will hurt yourself."

Lauren flinched at the sudden voice and turned to gaze down, but the stool shook and she lost her footing. She shrieked and closed her eyes, allowing the floor to embrace her.

That, however— never occurred. She was surprised to feel two warm arms around her.

That's when she risked opening her eyes to meet pair of icy blue, piercing eyes that stared down at her warily.

Ocean-deep eyes met her black ones. Lauren knew where she was right now because of the severity of her sight. She returned her gaze, still in the same stance.